Treatment

INVOcell

INVOcell is a cost-effective IVF alternative, with success rates that are significantly superior to a single IUI cycle.

sdfc-invocell-device

What is INVOcell?

INVOcell is an innovative fertility treatment that utilizes an intravaginal culture device (IVC) to fertilize and incubate an embryo inside of a vagina. Its design makes it more affordable than traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF).

How do INVOcell success rates compare with IVF and IUI?

How INVOcell works

Unlike traditional IVF, which is done in a laboratory, INVOcell takes advantage of the body’s natural temperature, pH balance, and gases to carry out the fertilization and incubation processes.

How much does INVOcell cost?

An INVOcell cycle can cost up to about 50% less than a traditional IVF procedure. This is because INVOcell reduces the need for extensive laboratory services, multiple ultrasound sessions, and medications. In comparison to IUI, INVOcell generally costs slightly more than three IUI cycles.

At San Diego Fertility Center, an INVOcell cycle costs $8,636, which includes the cost of the device, monitoring appointments at SDFC, egg retrieval, anesthesia, embryo transfer, pregnancy hormone tests, and early pregnancy monitoring at SDFC. There is an additional cost of $3,620 for the medications.

Who is a candidate for INVOcell?

INVOcell works best when patients have a BMI of 34 or less, an AMH of 0.8 or greater, and access to high-quality sperm. With a lower cost than IVF and a higher success rate than IUI, INVOcell offers many patients access to fertility care, including:

  • Same-sex female couples
  • Couples seeking an affordable alternative to IVF treatment
  • Patients who are candidates for three cycles of FSH IUI
  • Single moms by choice

INVOcell FAQ

Is INVOcell right for me?

Because it’s more affordable than traditional IVF, has a higher success rate than IUI, and uses the body’s natural environment, INVOcell is an attractive fertility treatment option for couples and individuals who are unable to seek out fertility treatments due to financial, social, cultural, or religious barriers.

However, it’s important to note that it may not always the most ideal medical option. For example, INVOcell works best when used by women under the age of 40 who have a BMI under 35 or weight less than 190lbs, and have access to high-quality sperm.

What’s the difference between IVF, IUI, and INVOcell?

IVF uses a combination of medication, surgical procedures, and sophisticated technologies to take the fertilization and incubation processes outside of the body. In IVF, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and then fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, with the resulting embryos being implanted directly into a uterus.

Similar to IVF, INVOcell works by combining the sperm and egg together into a culture device for fertilization and incubation. However, instead of using a lab, the INVOcell uses an IVC device to place the culture directly into the vagina so that incubation can occur inside the body.

This reliance on the body’s natural internal environment is somewhat similar to a natural IUI cycle, which is when the sperm is deposited directly into the uterus at the time of ovulation. In a natural IUI cycle, the procedure is performed without the use of fertility drugs and instead relies on the patient’s natural ovulation cycle.

What are the components of the INVOcell system?

The main part of the INVOcell system consists of a culture device and a retention device, which are constructed using non-toxic materials, including medical grade polystyrene, non-latex synthetic rubber/thermoplastic elastomer, and silicone.

The culture device is designed to prepare, hold, and transfer embryos during in vitro fertilization/intravaginal culture (IVF/IVC). During the incubation period, the retention device is used to keep the culture device stabilized inside the vagina.

The INVOcell also uses a holding block to assist with several phases of the loading and collection procedures. Constructed with stainless steel and a glass viewing window, the holding block is used for observation, positioning, and temperature maintenance.

How likely am I to conceive using INVOcell?

While no fertility treatment can 100% guarantee pregnancy, there is evidence that INVOcell offers a promising rate of success, especially in comparison to IUI procedures. On average, INVOcell cycles have a 25% success rate, while IUI has a success rate of 8 to 10%. However, INVOcell’s success rate is lower than IVF’s, which is currently 63%.

How long does an INVOcell cycle take?

From the initial consultation to the transference of the embryos into the uterus, a typical INVOcell cycle can take up to three weeks. This includes a five-day period in which the embryos are incubated inside the vagina.

How many monitoring visits will I need?

While every situation is unique and may have different requirements, the innovative design of INVOcell can sometimes result in the need for fewer monitoring visits than are typically needed with other forms of fertility treatment. This will be determined by your specific scenario and should be discussed with your doctor.

Is INVOcell covered by insurance?

As a fertility treatment, insurance coverage for INVOcell can vary wildly. Some insurances may cover the whole procedure, while others will only cover certain parts of the treatment and medications. Please check with your provider to see what your options are.

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